Herb Simon expects the new collective bargaining agreement to help small-market teams like the Pacers.

"I think it's an improvement over the last CBA," he said in a phone interview. "That, along with the new revenue sharing, will help the smaller markets."

Simon still believes his franchise needs help offsetting the $15 million to $18 million annually in operating costs of Consenco Fieldhouse.

"We're still going to need some help on the arena side, but not on thebasketball side," Simon said. "We still need to finalize our deal with the city to alleviate some of the arena expenses in a building that they own. That's the issue.

"It's never been the Pacers are losing money. Part of the reason we're losing money is because we're having these arena expenses that most other teams don't have to deal with."